Panchkula: Two years ago, Pooja Goyal faced every parent’s ultimate nightmare: the death of her only son, Ketan, to a rare and aggressive autoimmune disease. Today, she is ensuring his name lives on by transforming the healthcare landscape for others battling the same silent killer.Following her son’s death in Feb 2024, the Sec-20 resident founded the Vasculitis Society. Her mission is to close the gap in diagnosis and support for vasculitis, a condition characterized by the inflammation of blood vessels that can lead to organ failure if left untreated.A Vow Born of TragedyKetan Goyal was a 21-year-old engineering student when he was diagnosed with vasculitis. Because the disease is notoriously difficult to identify, his diagnosis came too late. “Even before Ketan was cremated, my family told me we must keep him alive by doing something,” Goyal said. Inspired by her sister-in-law and mother — who invoked the selflessness of Mother Teresa — Goyal channelled her mourning into a professional crusade.By May 2024, just three months after her son’s passing, the biotechnology scholar launched the society officially to prevent other families from enduring similar delays in care.Bridging the Diagnostic GapVasculitis mimics many common ailments, often leading doctors to treat symptoms rather than the underlying vascular inflammation. A patient might receive treatment for a standard eye infection when the true cause is vasculitis, potentially leading to permanent blindness or systemic damage. Goyal’s organization partners with specialists like Dr. Aman Sharma to host medical conferences at major institutions, including the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER).“We are encouraging doctors to think ‘out of the box,'” Goyal said. “Early diagnosis is a must, so we are creating awareness not only among patients but among the medical community as well.”A Growing Support EcosystemThe Vasculitis Society has grown to include seven core members and currently supports 300 patients across India. The organization’s impact includes direct aid (navigating complex govt healthcare schemes to secure funding for impoverished patients), formal partnerships (signing memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with PGIMER and Artemis Hospital in Gurgaon to streamline research and patient support).Expanded OutreachEstablishing the Ketan Goyal Foundation, which manages blood donation drives, artificial limb donations, and environmental initiatives like plastic recycling. Despite the heavy emotional toll of the work, Goyal remains focused on her “adopted” family of patients. “I was told to go out and think that the children you help are yours,” she said. MSID:: 129212177 413 |
